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LOCAL IRISH ENTERTAINERS TO DANCE, SING, JIG AND STILT WALK AT SECOND ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL
March 15, 2008
12:00 am

March 7th, 2008 : Costa Mesa, CA---Championship Irish dancers, an Irish band, a Celtic attired stilt walker and a Leprechaun magician, all based in Orange County, will provide a touch of Irish culture during the Second Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival on Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16 at the Orange County Market Place, the weekend swap meet at the O.C. Fair and Event Center. Three Irish dance schools, all of them with numerous honors and credentials, will be performing throughout the two day event.

First on stage will be dancers from the Claddagh Dance Company’s Lake Forest school on Saturday, March 15 performing three shows between 10 a.m. to noon.

The Claddagh Dance Company has eight schools throughout Southern California and is under the direction of Má ire O’Connell- also a dancer- who moved from Galway, Ireland to California in 1978 to establish the company. Her school now boasts more than 50 North American championship Irish dancers in solo and team events as well as several international champions.

Also on Saturday, students from the Butler-Fearon O’Connor School of Irish Dance of Mission Viejo will kick up their heels in two shows at 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.

This school was founded in 2003 and is the result of a merge between the world famous Butler-Fearon School of Canada and California and the O’Connor-Kennedy School in California. The directors of the school are Rose Fearon,
Vincent O’Connor and Kathleen O’Connor, all of them dancers since childhood.
Students of the school have won numerous titles, including North American, Great Britain, All-Scotland, All-Ireland and World Champion. Several senior dancers with the school have toured with or are currently touring with shows such as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.

Sunday’s dance show will be presented by the Aniar Academy of Irish Dance located in Laguna Niguel. They will show off their skills in four shows between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Theresa Thomas LaBlanc and Christine Byrne, co-directors of the Aniar Academy, are credited with bringing Irish dance to South Orange County. Established in 1995, the school has grown to over 150 students and boasts numerous championship dancers.

The Rovers Three, a Huntington Beach based trio of Irish musicians, will entertain with vintage Irish favorites and their original songs both days during the event. Performance times are 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The trio includes Howard Knott, a retired general manager of a manufacturing firm, who plays the color instruments such as the Irish bodhran, the Irish whistle, spoons, tambourine and harmonica. His son Mike Knott, a singer-songwriter and artist, plays rhythm guitar, bass and mandolin. Chuck
Daniher, a retired space engineer and video documentary producer, plays lead
guitar.

Other entertainment includes Celtic attired stilt walker Joy Halverson of Mission Viejo on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Jeff Abbit of Irvine as the Average Leprechaun performing magic, comedic stunts and juggling on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Additionally, promotions are being offered which include free Irish mint ice cream and free admission when wearing green. Both require a special coupon available via the Orange County Market Place’s email club or at the exit gates the weekend before. Email club sign ups are free at the website www.ocmarketplace.com.

All entertainment is included with swap meet admission, which is $2, or free for ages 12 and under.

The Market Place, which features nearly 1,000 vendors each weekend, is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also included is an artisans and crafters area, fresh produce, used luxury car sales lot, an abundance of unique products and services,

Event Website:
www.ocmarketplace.com
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